St. Pete Police Officer Injured in Crash with Fleeing Car

The officer received non-life threatening injuries, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department.

ST. PETERSBURG – A St. Petersburg police officer was injured late Monday (May 23) afternoon when the ATV he was driving was hit and overturned by a ca that was fleeing other officers.

St. Petersburg police did not release the officer’s name but said he is a 26-year department veteran. He sustained non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the fleeing car was also taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with non-life threatening injuries. The passenger in the car was not injured, St. Petersburg police said. The ATV, which was new and had only 10 miles on the odometer, was a total loss.

The car’s driver, Joshua A. Malone, 27, of 4534 13th Ave. S, was arrested. Police said Malone is charged with fleeing to elude, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, driving while license suspended/revoked, grand theft of a firearm, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine) with the intent to sell, possession of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance (liquid THC). The passenger was not charged.

Police say the incident happened shortly after 4 p.m. when officers tried to stop a car for seat belt violations at Fourth Avenue S and Fifth Street. The car did not stop and fled north on Fifth Street S. Officers did not pursue the fleeing vehicle and pulled over to the side of the street. The car ran a red light at the intersection of 1st Avenue S and struck the ATV, which was going east on First Avenue S. The crash caused the ATV to roll onto its side, officers said.

The impact of the crash also disabled the car. Both men in the car tried to run from the scene but were caught by responding officers. Inside the car were narcotics and two handguns. One of the guns was reported stolen in a residential burglary on April 13.